The finance minister has an unenviable task while presenting the budget this year, given the state of the economy, tax collections and budgetary deficit. Adding to his woes is the recent Vodafone ruling, generating debate on likely budget proposals for taxing indirect transfer of shares and anti-avoidance rules. Milin Thakore writes.

When Dinesh Trivedi begins his Railway Budget speech on March 14, he will do so in a difficult year - sky rocketing inflation rates and slowing economy. Most will hope that there is no fare hike announced. Ajay Mittal writes.

Assessments of the economy by the government and the central bank hinge on a single statistic that will be announced by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee today when he presents the Union Budget for 2012-13: the size of the fiscal deficit.